Liberation of The Slaves

Chapter 138 – Coexist with Monsters

After bidding farewell to the Frostwing Falcons, Len and I continued our journey. The wind swept past us in long, whispering currents, yet the silence between us did not last for long.

“How bold of you to praise another girl right in front of me,” Len said, her voice light and teasing, though there was a subtle sharpness hidden beneath it.

“Huh? She’s just a bird. Surely you’re not jealous?” I replied with a small chuckle, glancing at her with amusement.

“For now, yes, she’s just a bird,” Len answered calmly as her golden eyes shifted forward, her expression growing more thoughtful. “But sooner or later, she may no longer remain just a bird.”

Her words made my brows knit together in confusion.

“Huh? What do you mean? A bird will always be a bird, right? It’s not like they can transform into humans.”

Len slowly turned her head toward me, her gaze filled with disbelief, as if she could not quite comprehend how I had reached that conclusion. Yet, instead of correcting me immediately, she simply stared, letting the weight of my own words sink in.

That silence only made me more uneasy.

“Um… that’s not possible, is it?” I asked again, my voice carrying a hint of uncertainty this time.

Len let out a soft sigh, brushing her silver hair back over her shoulder.

“Think about the dragons you’ve encountered. Did you truly believe they were capable of taking human form from the moment they were hatched?”

“…You mean those birds could learn to take on human form too?”

“I can’t say for certain,” Len replied, her tone more measured now. “This is my first time encountering Frostwing Falcons as well. But I wouldn’t dismiss the possibility.”

Before I could dwell on that thought any longer, Aza’s calm voice echoed within my mind.

【Monsters with sufficient intelligence can often acquire the humanization skill, Master.】

“…Really?” I asked, my eyes widening slightly at the revelation.

【Yes. Even if they are unable to do so in their current state, there is a high probability they will attain human form upon evolving.】

“Wait… monsters can evolve?” I blurted out, my surprise growing with each new piece of information.

“It’s news to me as well,” Len admitted, folding her arms lightly beneath her chest as her brows furrowed in interest rather than doubt.

【It is rarely witnessed. Most monsters are hunted before they are given the opportunity to evolve. Furthermore, each race possesses its own unique conditions that must be fulfilled for evolution to occur.】

“I see…” I murmured, exhaling slowly as I tried to organize everything in my head.

“That’s quite fascinating,” Len added, her lips curling into a faint smile, her curiosity clearly piqued.

As their voices faded, my thoughts began to drift elsewhere. The concepts stirred memories from my past life, pulling fragments of familiarity from a completely different world. Games where creatures evolved after gaining enough experience, where transformation was almost guaranteed once certain conditions were met. Back then, it had all felt simple.

But this world was nothing like that.

There were no levels, no clear indicators, no convenient system guiding growth step by step.

I glanced back briefly toward the distant mountains we had left behind.

The image of the Frostwing Falcon lingered in my mind, its sharp gaze filled with more intelligence than I had initially given it credit for.

If what Aza said is true…

Then one day, that very same bird might stand before me in a completely different form—not as a creature of feathers and frost, but as something far closer to a human.

The thought was both fascinating…

As we continued moving forward, the earlier conversation still lingered in my mind. Eventually, curiosity got the better of me.

“By the way, Len… why did you handle that situation the way you did? I honestly expected you to confront them in battle.”

Len glanced at me briefly, one brow lifting ever so slightly.

“I told you already, didn’t I? I’m not a battle maniac.”

Her answer was calm, almost matter-of-fact, yet it didn’t quite satisfy me.

“Even so, I didn’t expect you to start a conversation and offer healing right away. That was… surprisingly gentle.”

Len slowed her pace just a little, her expression softening as if she had been waiting for that question.

“Darling… have you ever wondered why certain creatures are labeled as monsters?”

“…Huh?”

Her sudden shift in topic caught me completely off guard.

“It’s not just them,” she continued, her voice carrying a quiet weight. “Dragons, wolves, falcons… so many beings are grouped under that single word by society, as if they all share the same nature.”

I fell silent.

Her words were forcing me to recall my encounters so far.

The dragons I had met were not mindless beasts. They cared for their children, worried, protected, and even showed pride.

The Alpha Packmasters among the wolves… they mourned their fallen kin and sought vengeance, just like any grieving person would.

And the Frostwing Falcons… they reacted to praise, carried themselves with dignity, even seemed to understand intent beyond mere instinct.

‘They weren’t so different from us… were they?’

“…Could it be because of the language barrier between us and them?”

Dragons could speak our language, but wolves, falcons, and most other monsters could not. The only reason we could understand them was because of our Language Comprehension skill, something incredibly rare in this world.

To most people, monsters were simply… incomprehensible.

“Yes, I believe that is a major factor,” Len replied with a small nod. “Though it is not the only reason I chose not to fight.”

“So… what is it, then?”

For a moment, she looked up at the sky, her golden eyes reflecting the vast expanse above us. When she spoke again, her voice was softer, yet filled with a quiet conviction.

“I have a dream… that perhaps this world could become more beautiful if all races, including monsters, could coexist in harmony.”

I blinked my eyes. Her words were simple, yet they carried a weight far greater than anything she had said before.

“…Is that why you chose to talk to the falcons instead of fighting them?”

“Mm.” She turned back to me, a faint smile forming on her lips. “However, if battle becomes unavoidable, I will not hesitate. Just like with the wolves.”

“I see…”

“Fufu… I must sound quite naive, don’t I? Dreaming of something like that.”

She let out a soft, amused laugh, though there was a hint of self-awareness behind it.

It did sound idealistic. Like something out of a child’s imagination. A world where humans, demi-humans, dragons, and even monsters lived side by side without conflict.

Yet…

‘Why does it sound so appealing?’

A faint sense of nostalgia stirred within me.

‘Pokém*n…’

Back in my previous life, I had loved the idea of humans and those strange creatures coexisting, forming bonds beyond fear or dominance.

So how could I possibly dismiss her dream?

“It might sound like a fantasy if left as just a dream,” I said slowly, meeting her gaze. “But I don’t think it’s impossible.”

Len’s eyes widened slightly, clearly not expecting that response. I continued.

“We actually have the means to make it happen.”

“You could develop magical tools to bridge the language gap between humans and monsters. If they can understand each other, that alone would change everything.”

“And together… we could build a nation where monsters are accepted alongside other races. That was our goal from the beginning, wasn’t it? A place where different races can coexist.”

“So honestly… it doesn’t matter if we include monsters too.”

I let out a small smile. For a brief moment, Len simply stared at me. Then, she chuckled.

“You’re right, darling.”

Her laughter this time was warmer, brighter, and her golden eyes shimmered with renewed determination. However, as inspiring as that sounded, a more practical concern soon surfaced in my mind.

“But… avoiding fights with monsters would be nearly impossible if we want to be adventurers.”

After all, most quests in the Adventurer Guild revolved around subjugating monsters.

Len nodded without hesitation.

“Yes, I know. I’m not so naive that I would reject fighting monsters entirely just because of my dream. This world is not that kind.”

The conversation lingered between us. After a moment of quiet thought, I turned my attention inward.

“Alright then, Aza… since we’re already on this topic, what do you think about it?”

【While Goddess Libertas embraces all races, including monsters, such a dream is not without its difficulties.】

“In what way?” Len tilted her head slightly, her expression sharpening with interest.

【Language barriers are only the surface of the problem. There are far more fundamental issues… greed and sustenance.】

Her words carried a quiet weight, stripping away the idealism we had just been indulging in.

【Humans covet monster materials. Their hides, bones, and cores are used for crafting, decoration, and even cuisine. I will not deny that I, too, enjoy the taste of monster meat.】

【Likewise, monsters view humans as prey. Human flesh is considered… quite delectable among many species.】

I exhaled softly, unable to refute her. The truth was simple. Both sides consumed one another.

Aza continued, her explanation growing more intricate.

【Furthermore, the existence of monsters is not solely dependent on reproduction. In areas with high mana density, such as dungeons, monsters are born naturally.】

【Those with parents may inherit knowledge, discipline, or even restraint. However, monsters born from dungeons, especially those of lower rank, possess limited intelligence and lack guidance. They act almost entirely on instinct.】

“…Those are all valid points,” I admitted after a moment, rubbing the back of my neck. “And it’s not like monsters are united either. They fight among themselves all the time.”

I let out a small breath.

“It’s not that different from us, honestly. Humans, elves, beastfolk… we all share the same language, yet we still end up in conflicts and wars.”

“Yes…” For a brief moment, Len said nothing more.

Then, slowly, she lifted her head again. The hesitation in her expression vanished, replaced by something far more resolute.

“Even so… I still wish to try. Even if it takes centuries.”

Her voice was gentle, yet unwavering.

Her dream wasn’t just an idle thought. It wasn’t something she would abandon when faced with reality. It was something she had already chosen to carry, no matter how heavy it might become.

First, it was the liberation of slaves.

Now… even monsters.

‘…She really doesn’t stop, does she?’

A quiet thought crossed my mind.

‘At this point… she sounds more like the true protagonist of this world than I do.’

A small chuckle escaped my lips. “I haven’t even lived that long yet, so talking about centuries feels a bit unreal to me.”

Len blinked, then let out a soft, amused laugh. “Your perception of time dulls after a century or so, darling.”

“Is that so?” I smiled wryly. “Maybe that’s why elves and humans see time so differently. For elves, centuries might pass in the blink of an eye… but for humans, that’s practically an eternity.”

A light breeze passed between us as our laughter faded, leaving behind a quiet understanding.

As the conversation drifted from dreams and ideals back toward more grounded matters, something else came to mind.

“Oh, speaking of monster meat… what about Luna? Is she really okay with fighting wolves… and eating their meat?”

Len gave me a sidelong glance, one brow raised slightly.

“Isn’t it a bit late to be asking that now? It’s been nearly two months since then.”

“Uh… yeah…” I scratched my cheek awkwardly. “Sorry. My bad. I just… kind of forgot she’s a werewolf.”

Len let out a soft sigh, though there was no real annoyance behind it.

“She’s asleep at the moment. But I did ask her about it before.”

“And?”

“She doesn’t mind fighting wolves, but eating their meat… feels a little strange to her.”

I could imagine that.

Even if they weren’t exactly the same, there was still a connection. A lingering sense of familiarity that couldn’t simply be ignored.

“Still,” Len added with a faint smile, “she enjoys the taste. Especially after everything she went through during her time as a slave.”

“…I see.”

That part… was harder to comment on.

“Then… should we avoid eating wolf meat?”

Len shook her head without hesitation.

“There’s no need. If we suddenly change our habits for her sake, she’ll only feel guilty about it.”

Her gaze softened slightly.

“She’s already accepted it as part of living with us. If we start treating her too delicately, we’d only be undermining her resolve.”

“…Yeah. That makes sense.” I nodded slowly. “Alright. I’ll leave it to you then.”

With that settled, another question surfaced in my mind, something that had been bothering me for a while.

“Hey, Aza… Why does Language Comprehension work on some monsters but not others? Like the Red Wolves and the Moonhowlers we encountered.”

Aza answered without delay.

【Language Comprehension only functions on beings with sufficient intelligence. Creatures such as Red Wolves lack the cognitive capacity required for structured language.】

【It is similar to attempting to understand the babbling of an infant before it has learned to form words.】

“Ah… I see.”

That explanation made it much clearer.

“But then… how do Alpha Packmasters command them? If they can’t understand words, how do they follow orders?”

【It is a trait inherent to their species.】

【Wolves communicate through simple emotions and intent. It is a primitive form of Unified Essence.】

“Ah… so it’s more like… instinctual communication.”

I nodded to myself, finally connecting the dots.

【Yes.】

【However, individuals closely tied to that species should still be capable of understanding them. Luna, for instance, should be able to comprehend red wolves.】

“Really?” Len’s eyes widened slightly. “She’s never mentioned that to me.”

【It should still be possible,】 Aza continued thoughtfully. 【Even in her current state as a soul. Though, without a physical body, the process may be more difficult for her.】

“I see…”

Len fell quiet, her expression turning contemplative.

And just like that, the topic shifted once more, leaving behind a quiet trail of thoughts. About monsters, about understanding, and about the strange, fragile connections that existed between different beings in this world.